Dem Rep. Eugene Vindman hit with FEC complaint after campaign promoted twin brother’s book

WASHINGTON — Rep. Eugene Vindman (D-Va.) was slapped pinch a run finance complaint Monday, accusing him of utilizing run money to beforehand a book authored by his copy brother, Alexander — a cardinal witnesser successful President Trump’s first impeachment.

According to nan title by Americans for Public Trust (APT), Eugene’s run squad touted Alexander’s book “The Folly of Realism: How nan West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine” successful fundraising email blasts sent Feb. 27 and March 7 of this year.

The Post antecedently reported that Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings show that Eugene’s run paid $38,783 to a South Florida bookstore wherever Alexander was concurrently signing copies of nan tome arsenic a “fundraising expense.”

“It is intelligibly forbidden to usage run resources for individual use, and that is conscionable what Representative Vindman has done,” said Americans for Public Trust executive head Caitlin Sutherland.

“Rep. Vindman misused run resources to thief beforehand his brother’s book each nan measurement to nan New York Times bestseller list. The tens of thousands of run dollars spent to subsidize his brother’s spurious book should beryllium instantly investigated by nan FEC.”

FEC rules authorities that utilizing run assets, specified arsenic philanthropist lists, for book promotion aliases different monetary use is usually classified arsenic “prohibited individual use.”

The Feb. 27 email blast by Eugene’s run bore nan taxable statement “Alex’s New Book” and encouraged recipients to acquisition a copy, saying that it “reveals profound truths.”

The March 7 email again promoted “The Folly of Realism” and urged recipients to “claim your copy,” according to nan complaint.

“Vindman for Congress has importantly subsidized nan trading costs that should beryllium borne by Alexander Vindman and his book’s commercialized publisher,” APT’s filing stressed, citing FEC rules stipulating that run costs can’t beryllium converted “by immoderate personification to individual use.”

The Post reached retired to Eugene Vindman’s agency for comment.

Ten days aft nan book’s Feb. 25 merchandise date, Eugene’s run made a $7,809.55 costs to Books & Books successful Coral Gables, Fla., followed by a 2nd costs of $30,972.97 processed connected March 20.

The Coral Gables shop previously confirmed to The Post past period that Alexander Vindman held book signings astatine that location and noted that a personnel of 1 of Eugene Vindman’s squad had asked her earlier successful nan time what she would do if a newsman came astir asking questions.

Campaign payments to nan shop were listed arsenic a “fundraising expense,” but nan shop worker wouldn’t specify whether Eugene’s squad had really held fundraising activity there.

Two days aft nan first payment, connected March 9, Alexander Vindman posted connected X astir signing copies of his tome astatine Books & Books.

On March 21, a time aft nan 2nd costs of $30,973, Eugene posted that he was participating successful a chili cookoff successful Caroline County, Va. connected nan time nan cheque cleared.

Alexander Vindman’s book concisely made the New York Times “hardcover nonfiction” bestseller list during nan week ending March 16.

Eugene Vindman won a adjacent title to correspond Virginia’s 7th District past November pinch a message centered connected fighting against corruption, highlighting his efforts to assistance his copy relative successful testifying against Trump.

The Post antecedently reported that nan now-congressman eschewed questions past twelvemonth astir whether his taxpayer-funded trips to Ukraine played a domiciled successful his business ventures of trying to waste weapons to Kyiv.

Eugene told nan Prince William Times that as of precocious 2023, he had made 14 trips to nan war-torn country, funded by nan “Atrocity Crimes Advisory Group” State Department program.

But during that time, his company, Trident Support LLC, worked to waste nan Ukrainian authorities a weapons system. That patient besides utilized nan aforesaid PO container arsenic Vindman’s legislature campaign.

Vindman raked successful $125,000 from Trident early past twelvemonth contempt reports that he did not gain a net from nan company, financial disclosures show.